In.. out.. In.. Out...
Dizzzyyyyyy..

Winona giggled to herself, watching her feet go back and forth. A book was in one arm and a blanket in the other, all bouncing as she walked down the dirt path to a patch of land by the river. It was the perfect place by the river and Winona loved it. The past couple days have been busy to her. Between Elian and Atticus, they have been taking her out and hanging out. Winona didn't really know how to feel about it, but all she knows is that her and Atticus as 10x closer and her and Elian have much more in common than just being strange. Her outfit was another simple one. Winona loved the idea of simplicity. She was in leggings and a long, sheer baby blue top with a black tank top underneath. The weather lately had been really nice, hence why she brought her studies outside for a change.


Getting to the grassy spot, she laid her blanket down, and the book. Next, she sat down herself, getting her wand out of her back pocket. Her wand matched her personality and it had Veela hair in the core. She wasn't sure if that was the part that was most unlikely to her, but otherwise she loved her wand. "Accio, quill." Zooming towards her was a quill and ink bottle, which she easily caught and laid next to her. Her eyes looked up at the cloudless sky, the sun shining. It radiated off of the sparkling lake water and she smiled some. Swimming was one of her favorite things to do besides run and study and duel.

Leaning back on her palms, she decided not to open the text just yet. Her hair was up in a ponytail, the still curly ends stopping long between her shoulder blades, just above the small of her back. Inhaling, she smiled. "This is relaxation," she hummed to herself. The lake had other people there but they didn't bother her. Crossing her ankles, she got in a more comfortable position and watched the water. Her mind was swirling around Atticus and Elian... She wasn't dumb.. Winona knew a decision would be necessary soon, but-- both of them were so good to her. They both liked her for her and that was a concept she couldn't really wrap her head around, but she liked the way it felt.

Atticus had been very productive lately. Things were going well for he and Winona, or so he thought. Everything was going according to plan. He didn't mean to seem too calculative about the whole situation, it was just how he operated. It was how he achieved his goals. Winnie however, wasn't the target. She was the arrow. An arrow whose direction right now was not certain, something that bothered Atticus. The whole subject of archery is general had become a sour taste in Atticus' mouth. He had learned through his informants that the boy who Winona was seeing from time to time was named Elias. He had a strange obsession with archery and while Atticus respects it as a sport, he viewed the boy's dedication as a little nutty. A wand was more effective in every way and infinitely more utilitariain. There just wasn't a need for archery in contemporary magical society. But, to each their own.

He strolled down towards the lake as he always did when on walks through the grounds. His best contemplations have always been while on a leisurely stroll through the Hogwarts environs - usually at night when he can truly think in peace, however this day was too good to pass up. Coming up on the lake, Atticus saw a girl in a ponytail sitting down doing what looked like studying. He hoped it was Winona, however it was unlikely. Nonetheless he wanted to sit down  by the lake and relax, so he continued to walk towards the water.

Once he got closer he saw that it was in fact Winnie sitting by the lake. What luck! He thought to himself as he ran towards Winnie. He was wearing his infamous trench coat again, with dark grey jeans and his black boots. It occured to him how colorless most of his wardrobe was. It was all very drab and non-exciting. Generally speaking it was so he could blend in when doing his nefarious deeds, but also because he never found that he was able to express himself through his clothing. Outside of his trench coat, which was relevant because of its many pockets and ability to cloak his body, was the only wardrobe staple outside of his black boots. He was a fan of blue though. Ravenclaw had noble colors.

"Winnie!" He exclaimed, jumping the last few meters into the space next to her and sitting down. He hoped he didn't surprise her by coming out so suddenly. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, smiling. "How are you? Studying I see? We need to compare notes on Charms too... you're way better at Charms than me. I get worked up on DADA and Potions and do extra studying." He sighed, smiling and looking into her eyes.

It had been over a month since his "date that wasn't a date" with Winny. They had made up but he was still cautious after his oversight the first time. He had let her take the lead but he did let her know occasionally that he was still interested in more than just a friendship. He knew though that it might not last, once he was out of Hogwarts, if he was accepted he'd have to start training to be a hit wizard and he wasn't sure what all that entailed yet. Today though his mind was on something else entirely.

He'd spent the morning tutoring all five of his siblings in their various classes, trying to help them pass exams and homework that they had been stupid enough not to do. He was a bit grouchy because he'd missed his morning run and practice because of it. He loved them to death but they were going to give him gray hairs and he hadn't even hit 20 yet. Shaking his head he had changed out of the school uniform into his traditional brown pants and boots and green hooded shirt.

His bow and quiver were slung over his shoulders. He didn't care what people thought about him and his archery. For him it was a release and a potential for a job. He still kept up and maintained his dueling skills and wand work, but this is where his true passion lie. In the enchanted arrows, the magicked bow, it was as much a part of him as his wand ever was. He walked down towards the lake not seeing or caring about anyone else around him. This was his own time. Everyone else could have some later but he needed this for himself.

Once he was down there he flicked his wand as the multiple targets set themselves up in random patterns across the lake and out into the water. It was easier shooting out to the water when he wasn't working on his forested or enclosed space handling. Taking a deep breath as he pulled the cowl of his hood low over his head he strung his bow. Lifting it he felt the weight and tension as he pulled back. Just a moment before he released the arrow is when he heard it. He didn't think he'd ever be annoyed at that voice but at the moment that's what he felt.

"Winnie!"

Winnie was ripped out of her hypnotic, nature loving trance to see Atticus suddenly jump next to her. She let out a scared scream, seeing as he jumped down so quickly in front of her. "Hey, Attic," she said, smiling widely. The kisses on the cheek have be a normal routine now and she was in the habit of getting them. Her blush was a light pink, but nonetheless still there.

"How are you? Studying I see? We need to compare notes on Charms too... you're way better at Charms than me. I get worked up on DADA and Potions and do extra studying."

Winnie rolled her eyes. "Okay, Atticus-- Attic.. Calm down. Shhh," she said softly, her hand gently covering his mouth. "I only have my Potions text here and none of my notes. I'm simply reading," she said, taking her hand off his mouth." Her eyes locked onto his and she smiled back at him. "Someone seems like they---"

A familiar boy in a brown pants and a green hooded shirt. Elian? The shape and figure of him seemed really familiar. "Hey, Atticus, hold on." She stood and wiped her hands on her pants. "Elian!" She called. He had stopped and had shot in arrow into the lake. Her eyes took in his stance and something didn't seem right. "Elian!" She called again. "Screw it," she mumbled under her breath. Bending over, she got her wand. "Accio, bow and quiver," she said, waving it. Immediately, she saw the bow and quiver yank out of his hands and fly to her. It was slightly heavy, but she caught it, having to step back to take the impact. She set it down on the blanket. "Atticus, I want you to meet Elian, he's coming over," she said, slightly frustrated she had to use a spell..

Atticus chucked as he heard Winnie let out a startled scream. He rubbed her back to make her feel better and smiled widely. He looked down to see she did indeed just have her potions book, so he tabled the discussion on classes. Not that he would seriously engage in a discussion on school on such a beautiful carefree day like this one was. He looked at the lake, admiring the sun shining off it in the most perfect way. Today was a good day. He was excited where his relationship with Winnie would lead to, and today was a great way to find out.

"Okay, Atticus-- Attic.. Calm down. Shhh,"

Atticus laughed as Winnie covered his mouth and shushed him. Winnie cut herself off as she was distracted by something so Atticus took a look around to see what it might've been. She wasn't the ditzy type whatsoever so it was unusual for her to suddenly stop talking like that. He turned to see a tall boy wearing a hooded green shirt and brown pants. How plain. He thought to himself, concluding that the clothes were a bit strange but not anything outrageous. He wondered for a moment who this boy was before Winnie accio'd the bow and quiver. He groaned slightly. Elian Harris. It was Elian Harris of all people How irritating. What a tedium. What a terrible tedium. He managed a thin smile as he nodded at the boy who was now walking over at Winnie's beckon.

"Atticus, I want you to meet Elian, he's coming over,"

Atticus hesitated, mostly from stubbornness on not wanting to meet this individual. His sources told him he was a seventh year Gryffindor who had an obsession with archery. Just great. While Atticus respected Winnie greatly, he did not know what she saw in this guy. Nonethless, Atticus stood up and walked over to him and extended his hand. "Roark. Atticus Roark. Ravenclaw." He said curtly, almost a little to official. Atticus relaxed his jaw and met Elian with an intense stare as he waited for his introduction.

The moment the bow and quiver jerked out of his hands he clenched them and took a deep breath in before turning around. If it hadn't been Winona he would have hauled off on them right then and there. Exhaling he walked to her noting Atticus at her side. He knew about the boy and he didn't care too much for him. The smell of tobacco that seemed to follow him wasn't lost on Elian, but Winny liked him so he hadn't said anything.

Looking him up and down he glanced at the extended hand and grabbed a little to hard for a handshake. He didn't say a word for a moment but let go of his hand. He wasn't jealous, okay he was a little, but he was more irritated at outside things that didn't involve these two. He was leaving in three weeks. He still had to get his siblings and himself through finals, get them settled for the summer somewhere that wasn't home with their mother, he had to get a job so that he could continue to support them and their stays at Hogwarts. He was stressed and the last thing he needed was a confrontation. 

"Elian, but I suspect you already know that," he said leaning in close so Winona couldn't hear. "You're not the only one with eyes and ears."

He stepped back and looked to the only girl in the group as he took his bow and quiver. He sighed knowing what he needed to do and had been avoiding since the beginning. Reaching over he took her hand in his and took a step away from Atticus.

"I need to talk to you," he said and then glanced to Atticus. "Alone."

The minute Winona saw Elian coming towards them, she could sense something was wrong. There was an air about him that made her think that he wasn't as happy as he usually was. Winona thought about the days after their first date: the archery date, and some eating/studying sessions in the Great Hall and library. Maybe that was it. A small frown passed over her lips and she looked over at Atticus. There was no doubt that he had found out everything about Elian through his little subjects and she already knew why he was thin smiled.  She gave him a look that read 'Be nice'.

Winona watched as the two introduced themselves. There was a certain feeling eating away at her stomach... It definitely wasn't hunger. It was a more scared feeling of what these two were up to against each other. By the way Attic introduced himself, she knew this wasn't going to go well. Her eyes squinted, watching how Elian leaned over and said something inaudible to Atticus. What he said, she had no idea and she had no power to read lips.

But, the feel of her hand in his, made her look up with a small, nervous smile. Her other hand was behind her, messing with her ponytail. Winona rarely wore her hair up. She liked to surprise people with showing off her radiant face every once in a while. "Hm?"

"I need to talk to you,"

Winona's smile wilted. She looked from Atticus to Elian and then to an empty spot under an oak tree a couple feet away. "Um... Atticus, give us a minute," she whispered softly. Her voice quivered with an anxious tone. Walking, she lead them under the shade of the oak branches. Her eyes looked up at him, into his eyes. All she could see was annoyance and exhaustion. "Elian.... Elian, what's wrong?" she asked with a frown.

Atticus narrows his eyes at Elian intensely. He barely knew this Elian Harris, but he knew some of his siblings anecdotally. He gathered that the boy cared very much for his family - possibly the only trait Atticus found admirable. Family always come first. A man who takes care of his family is doing it right. Nonetheless, Elian was yet a man and at the moment he was presenting to be quite the irritation to Atticus.

"Elian, but I suspect you already know that," he said leaning in close so Winona couldn't hear. "You're not the only one with eyes and ears."

He raied an eyebrow skeptically. While he wasn't surprised that Elian knew he had connections, he was surprised at the ballyness of his last statement. He has eyes and ears? What an amusement. Atticus had eyes and ears all over the school. His informants were top notch, partially because of how hard he searched to find the best in the school, but also because they were motivated by money. It was a business after all, and for a student any income was welcomed, dirty or not. Atticus scoffed lightly at the comment, took a step back and crossed his arms. Elian then told Winnie he needed to talk to her, took her hand and began to pull her away. Atticus cleneched his fists tightly and did his best not to reveal his anger. He turned his head and looked at the lake, ever so peaceful in this tense situation. He took a few steps towards it, uncrossing his arms so he could reach for his wand. Whenever Atticus found himself stressed or otherwise uncomfortable, twirling his wand helped him refocus himself. Other times he did it out or boredom, the practice serving as an excellent way to keep his fingers dexterious for duelling. Dual benefits.

"Um... Atticus, give us a minute,"

Atticus looked back and nodded at Winona, noticing her smile fading as Elian led her over towards an Oak tree. That was fine. It wasn't his place to be truly offended or upset, he didn't own Winona nor was he dating her. Given that, he still felt a twinge of anger over the whole ordeal. Atticus rarely took to opinions on people so quickly but he already found Elian to be so unpleasant. Who carries a bow around school? Really? Atticus chucked to himself when he considered his muggleborn heritage - even he found a muggle-made weapon to be utterly useless in this world. It serves as nothing but a historical anecdote.

"Elian.... Elian, what's wrong?

Atticus was beginning to get stressed out, to the smallest degree. He muttered a few vulgar phrases to express his distaste for the whole matter as he rolled his eyes and lit a cigarette. He guessed he was breaking the no-smoking rule around Winona. That being said, they were outside and he needed it. He looked around to see if anyone who would want to report him for smoking was around, and there were none. He took a second deep inhale and blocked out Elian and Winona's conversation. Twirling his wand in his left hand and smoking a cigarette in his right, Atticus sat down on the lake shore and leaned over his knees. He began to zone out, his gaze focused on the center of the lake where the sun met.

Elian ignored Atticus, he could think what he wanted to about his little "spies." It didn't take a genius to figure it all out. No one had that much time to find out that much information. Besides Elian wouldn't say that he had a grip on a few of them. Especially the ones who thought they could mess with his sisters and get away with it. He wasn't going to do anything about it, other than what had already been done. He knew better than anyone that money and goods ran this messed up world and Elian knew how to get anything he wanted.

Turning to Winona he shook his head as he bit his lip. He was frustated, stressed, and having to do something he desperately didn't want to do. It would make Atticus hate him but he didn't care about the other boy. Taking her face in his hands he rubbed her cheeks and smiled sadly.

"You know I'm a 7th year Winona. In three weeks I have to go. I have to find places for my siblings to stay, I have to find work. I won't be here. I've already put in requests for applications at the Ministry for Auror, Obliviator, and Hit Wizard," he said.

He could see the tears in her eyes already and it was breaking his heart. He didn't want to lose her, he knew she'd always be a friend but he wanted more than that. Leaning in he kissed her gently on the lips. It was a soft kiss and lasted for a moment before kissing her on the forehead.  Sighing he forced himself to look back at her and continue on.

"Be with Atticus. I don't like him. I would rather shoot him and he'd rather blast me into oblivion, but that's beside the point. If it's me, then all you'll do is worry about me coming back alive and being with other women. I'll only worry about every other guy here coming onto you while I'm away. I don't want that for you. So please, go be happy with him. I'll write when I can if you still let me."

The sad looks in his eyes... the way he was acting ..  No... Winona dreaded this. She had wanted to make a decision and still be friends with them.. No, this couldn't be happening. The way he bit his lip showed his nervousness. Is that what she looked like when she bit her lip and looked nervous? The flipping and chewing in her stomach was getting worse and worse. Winona wanted him to just get it over with. She was waiting for him to walk out of her life... forever. His big hands were warm against her face and she leaned into his touch. The smile on his lips was a weak but she just wanted him to say something.

"You know I'm a 7th year Winona. In three weeks I have to go. I have to find places for my siblings to stay, I have to find work. I won't be here. I've already put in requests for applications at the Ministry for Auror, Obliviator, and Hit Wizard..."

Winona felt her heart jump over a beat like a horse jumping an obstacle in a competition... This meant that any relationship between them would basically be.. not worth it. It would be redundant. Tears brimmed on her eyelids and she blinked them back as well as she could. "Oh.. I see," she said softly."I under--" Suddenly, soft lips touched hers. Her eyes widened before shutting and kissing him back just as softly as he kissed her. Her heart ached. That wasn't a romantic kiss... It was a kiss...goodbye. Winona suddenly felt an overwhelming sensation in her chest. This... This was all so much.

"Be with Atticus. I don't like him. I would rather shoot him and he'd rather blast me into oblivion, but that's beside the point. If it's me, then all you'll do is worry about me coming back alive and being with other women. I'll only worry about every other guy here coming onto you while I'm away. I don't want that for you. So please, go be happy with him. I'll write when I can if you still let me."


No. Winona didn't want it to go down like this... Winona gently stepped back, a sob finally breaking free. The tears flowed from her blue eyes that held sadness like a child clutching a teddy bear. "I..." She stopped and put her head in her hands, suddenly running a couple feet away from both him and Atticus. She needed to be alone. There was a huge rock, not too far from them, about 25 feet away. She climbed onto it, sitting, clutching her knees to her chest, crying.

After a minute of staring into nothing Atticus turned his head toward Winona and Elias out of curiosity. What he saw twisted his face into an convuluted mixed expression of anger and disgust. Elias was kissing Winona and it looked like she was kissing back. Atticus thought back to the day in Hogsmeade with Winona and felt a pain in his heart. A second later he saw Winona running off away from him and towards a rock that was essentially neutral ground. Was she crying? What the hell was going on? What did Elias say to her? Was she reacting to the kiss? Atticus narrowed his eyes and watched Winona reach the rock and looked back at Elias. That son of a squib did something to Winona and Atticus wouldn't let that stand.

He stood up and tossed his cigarette, his other hand no longer twiling his wand as he clutched it tightly and began walking towards the tree Elian was standing under. He could feel blood rushing to his face and felt his face twitch a little as he was filled with rage. Every step he took his pace quickened as he closed the distance between Elian. "WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER?" He shouted, his voice taking on a much lower and angrier timber than usual. He tightened his grip on his wand until his hand hurt. It took everything he had in his not to start wildly shooting hexes and curses left and right. Once he had reached half the distance to Elian he began repeated his question, only louder with more rage. He turned his head back for a moment to see that Winona was still sitting on the rock. Normally he would've gone to her to ask what happened but seeing Elias kiss Winona sent him into a rage and he knew it. Atticus was painfully aware that his logical mind had been compromised by what he saw. He let his emotion flow through him and power him.

He considered for a moment that he was very vulnerable to being shot with one of Elian's arrows should he feel threatened enough. While Atticus felt confident that he could deflect or dodge it, it wasn't a chance he wanted to take. But of course Elian had the bow and quiver back on his body so disarming him wouldn't be an option. He wondered if Elian had ever dueled. He was a seventh year and probably had before but clearly his passion lied in archery. Atticus smiled as he thanked himself for his own dedication to duelling and unconventional tactics and techniques. They would prove to be very useful against someone who wasn't a well accomplished duellist. Fear is the mind killer. He thought to himself as he his pace quicked to the point of a full out run.

Atticus reached Elian and before even thinking about what he was doing he slammed into him, throwing him over his shoulder and into the ground. He was honestly incredibly surprised that he was able to do that given that while he was in good shape he wasn't overtly muscular. He thanked the power of adrenaline as he drew his wand and pointed it at Elian.

 "I challenge you to a duel." He said coldly, his voice calm and monotone. His emerald eyes bore into Elian with disgust.

Elian's heart fluttered as he felt her return the kiss, he could taste the salt from her tears as he pulled away. It was just as heartbreaking for him to have to do this, but it had to be done. He didn't want to string her along unless it was something she chose to do. He watched her go with a half pained look on his face. He was so focused on her that he didn't hear or even notice Atticus screaming at him.

Finally jerking out of the trance he heard the second demanding cry from the younger boy as he walked up determined to fight, to cause pain. Good because Elian was ready and willing to fight him. The pained look left quickly in place of the darkened stare that he had earlier. He wasn't going to shoot him and tossed the bow and quiver away from him so it wouldn't get broken in the scuffle. He may not be the most accomplished duelist but he wasn't weak. Everything he did he worked hard at, the archery was just what he worked more on.

He'd fought his brothers and even his sisters all his life in play so when the flip happened he jumped back up and spun around his fist colliding with Atticus's face, he felt and heard the pop telling him that he had broken his nose. He glared at him as the hit had sent him backwards.

"Not. Smart."

Thoughts pervaded through Winona's mind. The kiss she had with Elian... the kiss Atticus bestowed upon her... Each thought brought a new wave of tears and pain in her chest. There was no longer a decision.. Elian was letting her go. The wrench that was banging against her heart was just about to stop when suddenly:

"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER?"

The yell was very much audible from Winona's perch on the boulder not too far away. She looked up, wiping her face. In her mind, she knew her shining blue eyes would be red for a bit after this whole fiasco was over... but that was the least of her worries. Squinting some, she saw Atticus heading to Elian. Oh no... Winona scrambled up quickly, nearly tripping over her own two feet. Those two would kill each other if they had the chance. She could hear Atticus repeat himself.. He never repeated himself, but now he was angry. As she rushed down the rock, she kept her eyes on the two. A gasp escaped her mouth seeing Elian fall. Oh no.. "Elian.. Atticus... Damnit," she whispered to herself. Once her feet were on the grass, she looked up from watching her feet find flat ground to see Elian punch Atticus in the face. Even from her distance, she knew for sure something was broken.

"ELIAN! ATTICUS!" She ran over there, getting her wand out of her pocket.

The distance between the two boys wasn't much, but Winona shoved Atticus and Elian back away from each other. "Stop it," she said, looking at both of them, her wand out. "Both of you..." Her eyes noticed red protruding from Atticus' nose. "Damnit.. Damnit," she said. "Look.. Both of you--" Then an idea popped up. "A duel.. I'm sure Atticus suggested that.." She muttered.

Her eyes looked over at Elian, full of worry. She turned to Atticus. "Brace yourself," she warned softly. Pointing her wand at the bridge of Atticus' nose, she said clearly, "Episkey." The crack and setting of the bone was heard and the nose was straight. "There... But, you'll definitely need to see the infirmary about it later." The blood was beginning to dry on his face when she turned to Elian. "Are you hurt?"

"Not. Smart."

"ELIAN! ATTICUS!"

Atticus felt a sudden huge impact on his face as Elian's fist collided with it, breaking his nose. He felt blood pour down his face as his nose throbbed uncontrollably. So the brute hit back. It was a logical course of actions that Atticus would've forseen has he thought through what he did. But rage had taken hold. He got up and wiped some blood off his face. "Duel. Now." He grunted, giving Elian sinister look. "No excuses." He added, twirling his wand around once before Winona showed up. He turned to her, surprised to see that she got off the rock and came back. Then again two of her love interests just got into a brawl so that too made sense.

"Damnit.. Damnit," she said. "Look.. Both of you--" Then an idea popped up. "A duel.. I'm sure Atticus suggested that.." She muttered.

Atticus grunted as Winona fixed his nose, and then stepped back. "Winona, I have to duel him. I'm sorry." He said, looking her right in the eye knowing that he was about to hurt her. The look in his eye was of pure determination. Nothing was going to stop him. He scoffed when Winona asked if Elian was hurt. "Soon enough." He said, under his breath. Atticus pointed his wand at the earth in front of Elian and wordlessly shot a medium sized bolt into the ground, cuasing it to shoot up and towards Elian. It was a harmless, he would've aimed at Elian's head if he was trying to hurt him but now he was trying to get his attention. "No more talking." He said, turning around and taking twenty paces back. After getting there he turned around and assumed his duelling stance, eyes set dead on Elian.

Elian grabbed his wand and then waited for Atticus. He wasn't going to go down easy but he wasn't going try and seriously damage the boy either. Watching as Atticus turned around he looked to Winnie. Nodding that he was okay he turned back to the duel.

"Well you gonna start or what?" he asked as he brought his wand up. "Oh yes."

He gave Atticus a mock bow as he lifted his wand to make his first move firing off a shot at him.